Kennesaw State University Nursing School Review

Kennesaw State University (KSU), situated conveniently close Atlanta in Cobb County, started out as a junior college with 1000 students back in 1963. Now, with over 24,000 students, it is the third-largest institution of higher learning in the state, and has been a university since 1996. Among the many areas of study available at Kennesaw State University, the nursing program is one of the most popular and is, in fact, the biggest nursing program in Georgia.

The WellStar School of Nursing at Kennesaw State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Education for Nursing. Graduates of the WellStar School of Nursing have a high rate of success on licensing exams, and go on primarily to work in the famous medical facilities in Atlanta, with the U.S. military, and in the underserved southern area of Georgia.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is the traditional route for students to become Registered Nurses (RN). There are twelve prerequisite courses for the program, at least seven of which must be completed at the time of application. An applicant must also take the TEAS entrance exam. Typically, a student would declare nursing as an intended major, take the prerequisite courses during the first year of study at Kennesaw State University, and then apply to the BSN program. Admission to the program is highly competitive even among those who are already students at Kennesaw State University. At the end of the program, which typically takes four years including prerequisites, a student earns a baccalaureate degree and is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN).

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

A student who has already completed a degree in another field does not need to retake prerequisite courses for nursing. He can apply to the accelerated BSN program, which takes only four semesters as opposed to the eight semesters of the traditional BSN program. As with the traditional BSN program, there are twelve prerequisite courses. If he didn’t complete all of these in the course of getting his first degree, he must take them before beginning the accelerated BSN program. He is also required to take the TEAS exam.

RN to BSN Program

An RN who holds an associate degree or diploma can earn a full baccalaureate degree through the RN to BSN program. While she must take all the necessary general core classes, she can skip some of the nursing classes through the advanced placement option. She must enroll in a three-credit class called Concepts of Nursing. If she successfully completes this class on the first try, she can skip the sophomore and junior nursing classes, and begin at the senior level.

Master of Science in Nursing – Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program

The WellStar College of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program that prepares experienced RNs (who have been working at least three years in the field) to earn certification as Family Nurse Practitioners. The program requires forty semester hours, including clinical rotations. At the end of the program, an RN has the skills and knowledge necessary to function as a primary care provider, and is eligible to sit for the certification exam to become a nurse practitioner.

Master of Science in Nursing – Advanced Care Management and Leadership Program

The MSN in Advanced Care Management and Leadership program is 100-percent online, and requires 15 months to finish. It is open to RNs with at least a year of work experience. This program is an ideal opportunity for an RN who is interested in the process of implementing rapidly changing healthcare policies, learning about managing problems and decision-making in the healthcare field, learning about leadership strategies and developing leadership skills. At the end of the 15-month program, the graduate can become certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Doctorate in Nursing

While working on a Doctorate in Nursing (DNS), a nurse will learn the finer skills of healthcare research, hone leadership skills in order to implement healthcare policies, particularly among at-risk populations, and learn practical and theoretical skills to help her educate new nurses. The competitive program is open to nurses who already have an MSN, and the admission process includes an in-person interview with the WellStar School of Nursing’s Doctoral Admissions Committee. Once accepted, a student must commit to sixty semester hours of work, twelve of which are dedicated to a doctoral thesis. The class structure is hybrid, half online and half onsite. The onsite classes take place on Fridays and Saturdays, allowing the student to continue working while studying.

Contact:
Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastian Road
Kennesaw, GA 30144

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